IELTS Academic Practice Test 27

Reading Passage 1

The Global Water Crisis

Fresh water, though often perceived as an abundant resource, constitutes only a small fraction of the planet's total water supply, with the vast majority held in oceans as saltwater unsuitable for drinking or agriculture without costly treatment. Of the small percentage that is fresh, most is locked away in glaciers and ice caps, leaving a surprisingly limited proportion readily accessible in rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers for the roughly eight billion people who depend on it. Water scarcity is not evenly distributed globally; rather, it reflects a complex interaction between natural rainfall patterns, population density, and water management practices. Some regions with abundant rainfall nonetheless experience significant water stress due to inadequate infrastructure or contamination, while some naturally arid regions have developed sophisticated water management systems that support large populations relatively sustainably. Agriculture accounts for the overwhelming majority of global freshwater withdrawal, considerably outstripping industrial and domestic use combined. This has led water policy researchers to emphasise agricultural efficiency improvements, such as drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to plant roots rather than spraying it across entire fields, as offering some of the greatest potential for reducing overall water consumption without necessarily reducing food production. Climate change is expected to intensify water scarcity challenges in many regions, altering historical rainfall patterns in ways that complicate long-term water infrastructure planning. Some areas are projected to experience increased flooding from more intense rainfall events, while simultaneously facing longer dry periods between those events, a pattern that existing water storage infrastructure, often designed around historical rainfall assumptions, may struggle to accommodate. International cooperation over shared water resources, particularly rivers and aquifers crossing national borders, presents a further complication. Numerous major rivers flow through multiple countries, and disputes over water allocation, particularly involving dam construction upstream that can significantly affect downstream water availability, have occasionally strained diplomatic relations between neighbouring states. While formal international water-sharing agreements exist for many transboundary water systems, enforcement mechanisms are often weak, and rising demand driven by population growth and economic development continues to strain existing arrangements, leading some analysts to identify water scarcity as an increasingly significant factor in regional geopolitical tension going forward.

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

1. Where is most of the planet's fresh water held, according to the passage?

A) In rivers and lakes B) In glaciers and ice caps C) In underground aquifers D) In the oceans

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

2. Water scarcity is distributed evenly around the world.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

3. Some regions with abundant rainfall still experience water stress due to inadequate __________ or contamination.

Answer •••

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

4. Which sector accounts for the overwhelming majority of global freshwater withdrawal?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

5. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots rather than spraying entire fields.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

6. Climate change is expected to make long-term water infrastructure planning more complicated.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

7. What can upstream dam construction on transboundary rivers cause, according to the passage?

A) Improved diplomatic relations B) Significant effects on downstream water availability C) Increased rainfall downstream D) No effect on neighbouring countries

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

8. Enforcement mechanisms for international water-sharing agreements are often weak.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

9. What do some analysts identify water scarcity as becoming a factor in?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

10. Some naturally arid regions have managed water sustainably despite low rainfall.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

11. What pattern does the passage say climate change may bring to some regions?

A) Only more flooding, with no dry periods B) Increased flooding alongside longer dry periods C) Consistently stable rainfall D) A permanent reduction in rainfall variability

Reading Passage 2

The Neuroscience of Musical Memory

Among the many faculties affected by neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, musical memory has emerged as a notable exception, frequently remaining relatively intact even in patients who have lost the ability to recognise close family members or recall basic autobiographical details. This apparent resilience has attracted considerable scientific interest, as researchers attempt to understand why musical memory appears to be processed and stored differently from other forms of memory in the brain. Neuroimaging studies suggest that musical memory relies on a distributed network of brain regions that differs somewhat from the regions most heavily implicated in typical episodic memory, the memory of specific personal experiences most severely affected in Alzheimer's disease. Notably, some of the brain regions most associated with musical memory, including areas within the medial prefrontal cortex, appear to be among the last regions affected as Alzheimer's disease progresses, potentially explaining why musical recognition and emotional response to familiar music can persist even in advanced stages of the disease. This phenomenon has practical clinical applications. Music therapy programmes designed specifically for dementia patients have grown considerably in recent years, with caregivers and researchers reporting that familiar music, particularly music with strong personal or cultural significance from a patient's youth, can trigger periods of increased alertness, emotional engagement, and even temporary improvements in verbal communication that are otherwise rarely observed in advanced-stage patients. Researchers caution, however, against overstating these effects. While music can produce genuine, observable improvements in mood and engagement during and shortly after listening sessions, current evidence does not support claims that music therapy can meaningfully slow the underlying progression of neurodegenerative disease itself. The benefits, while real and clinically valuable for improving patient wellbeing and quality of life, appear to be primarily palliative rather than disease-modifying. Ongoing research continues to investigate precisely why musical memory shows this distinctive resilience, with some researchers proposing that music's deep integration with emotional processing, procedural memory (the type of memory involved in learned physical skills), and multiple sensory pathways simultaneously may distribute musical memories more redundantly across brain regions than other memory types, potentially making them more resistant to the localised patterns of neural damage characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

12. What is notable about musical memory in patients with Alzheimer's disease?

A) It is usually lost first B) It often remains relatively intact C) It is unaffected by any brain condition D) It disappears at the same rate as other memories

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

13. Musical memory relies on the same brain regions as typical episodic memory.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

14. Some regions associated with musical memory appear to be among the __________ affected as Alzheimer's disease progresses.

Answer •••

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

15. What type of memory is most severely affected in Alzheimer's disease, according to the passage?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

16. Music therapy programmes for dementia patients have grown considerably in recent years.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

17. Current evidence supports the claim that music therapy slows the underlying progression of neurodegenerative disease.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

18. How does the passage describe the benefits of music therapy for dementia patients?

A) Disease-modifying B) Primarily palliative C) Entirely ineffective D) Only theoretical, with no clinical evidence

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

19. Familiar music can trigger temporary improvements in verbal communication in some advanced-stage patients.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

20. Besides emotional processing, what other type of memory do researchers say music is deeply integrated with?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

21. Music associated with strong personal significance may be particularly effective in triggering patient engagement.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

22. What do some researchers propose explains musical memory's resilience?

A) It is stored in only one small brain region B) It may be distributed redundantly across multiple brain regions and pathways C) It is not actually a form of memory D) It develops only after other memory types are lost

Reading Passage 3

The Debate Over Universal Basic Income

Universal basic income, a policy proposal in which governments would provide all citizens with a regular, unconditional cash payment regardless of employment status or income level, has moved from a fringe theoretical idea to a subject of serious policy experimentation in numerous countries over the past decade. Proponents argue the policy could address several interconnected challenges, including poverty, the anticipated labour market disruption from automation, and the administrative complexity and stigma often associated with traditional means-tested welfare programmes. Several pilot programmes have been conducted in various countries and regions, providing researchers with empirical data to evaluate claims made by both supporters and critics of the policy. Results from these trials have generally shown modest but measurable improvements in recipients' mental health and financial stability, alongside little evidence supporting critics' frequent concern that unconditional payments would substantially discourage recipients from seeking employment. However, most pilot programmes have been relatively small in scale and limited in duration, typically lasting between one and three years, raising legitimate questions about whether findings would generalise to a permanent, nationwide programme implemented at full scale. Economists note that behavioural responses to a temporary pilot programme, where recipients know payments will eventually end, may differ substantially from responses to a permanent policy that fundamentally alters long-term financial planning and career decisions. The most significant obstacle to widespread implementation remains cost. Providing a meaningful basic income to an entire national population would require substantial government revenue, typically necessitating either significant tax increases, substantial reductions in other government spending, or some combination of both. Estimates of the fiscal impact vary considerably depending on the proposed payment level and how existing welfare programmes would be modified or replaced, making direct cost comparisons between different proposals genuinely difficult. Debate also continues regarding whether basic income should replace existing targeted welfare programmes entirely or supplement them. Critics of full replacement argue that targeted programmes, despite their administrative complexity, can direct greater resources towards those with the greatest need, such as people with disabilities requiring substantial additional support, in ways a uniform payment to all citizens cannot easily replicate. Proponents counter that the simplicity and universality of basic income, avoiding the stigma and bureaucratic barriers that can prevent eligible people from accessing means-tested benefits, may ultimately reach vulnerable populations more effectively despite the lack of targeting.

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

23. How is universal basic income defined in the passage?

A) A payment given only to unemployed citizens B) A regular, unconditional cash payment to all citizens C) A one-time payment during economic crises D) A loan provided by the government

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

24. Pilot programme results have generally shown little evidence that unconditional payments discourage employment.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

25. Pilot programmes have generally shown modest improvements in recipients' mental health and __________.

Answer •••

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

26. How long have most pilot programmes typically lasted?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

27. The most significant obstacle to widespread implementation of basic income is public opposition.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

28. Behavioural responses to a temporary pilot might differ from responses to a permanent programme.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

29. What do critics of fully replacing targeted welfare with basic income argue?

A) Targeted programmes cannot help anyone effectively B) Targeted programmes can direct more resources to those with greatest need C) Basic income is always cheaper D) Targeted programmes have no administrative complexity

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

30. Proponents argue basic income could avoid the stigma associated with means-tested benefits.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

31. What labour market disruption do proponents say basic income could help address?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

32. Estimates of the fiscal impact of basic income are consistent across all proposals.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

33. According to the passage, providing basic income nationwide would typically require what?

A) No change to government revenue B) Tax increases, spending cuts, or a combination of both C) International loans only D) Reducing the population

Writing Task 1

AgricultureIndustryDomestic

The table below shows freshwater withdrawal by sector (agriculture, industry, and domestic use) as a percentage of total withdrawal in four regions. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. | Region | Agriculture | Industry | Domestic | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | South Asia | 90 | 4 | 6 | | Western Europe | 25 | 55 | 20 | | Sub-Saharan Africa | 82 | 5 | 13 | | North America | 38 | 46 | 16 |

Writing Task 2

Some people believe that governments should provide all citizens with a regular unconditional payment regardless of their income or employment status. Others believe this money would be better spent on targeted support for those most in need. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.